Dick "Bulldog" English

Dick "Bulldog" English 1928-2009 Richard M. English died on February 23, 2009 in Rancho Mirage, CA. He was 80 years old. Dick was born in 1928 in Buffalo, NY, the first born to Matthew and Marion English. His father "Matt" owned a gas station in South Buffalo for 26 year s. In 1950, Dick and his dad opened Matt English Restaurant & Bar. They sold the restaurant in 1954. Dick attended Public School No. 72 and South Park High School where he excelled in football and track. As a freshman, Dick was tagged with the nickname "Bulldog" which stuck with him for his lifetime. After graduating from high school in 1946, he enlisted in the Army. He spent 1947 as part of the occupation of Japan. He then attended the University of Buffalo and its law school under the G.I. Bill of Rights. While at UB, Dick was the middle weight boxing champion. During college and law school, he worked for 6 summers as a Hall's Bakery salesman. In September of 1952, Dick married Nan Kinney of South Buffalo. After law school graduation in 1953, he started a law practice. However, in late 1954, they moved to Southern California. They settled in Lynwood, CA where Dick practiced law and became a City Councilman in 1958. A few months later, he chaired Pat Brown's campaign for Governor of California. In 1960, Dick worked full time in John F. Kennedy's campaign for president, chairing one third of L.A. County. In 1964, Dick ran for Congress as a democrat, but lost by a mere 148 votes. He was a delegate on the Robert F. Kennedy for president slate in 1968 at Chicago's Democratic Convention. During his legal career, Dick represented Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", who served 54 years in prison, 47 years in solitary confinement. Dick was assured in late 1963 that President Kennedy was giving Stroud's case full consideration for a pardon. However, Stroud died on November 21, 1963 and within 24 hours, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. In 1979, Dick moved to Palm Desert, CA and established a second law practice. In 2002, he purchased a condo in Palm Desert. That's where he and Joyce Nease Crawford lived until his death. Dick was a member of the New York State Bar Association; State Bar of California; Blackthorn Club of South Buffalo; Life Member of American Legion Post No. 1477, Lackawanna, New York; Li fe Member of Foreign Wars, Post No. 2940, West Seneca, New York; member of the Jacob D. Hyman Society of the UB Law School; board member of the Desert Foundation for democracy. Dick's wife of 47 years, Nan, died in 1999. They had two children, Mary and Rick. Both are practicing attorneys in Southern California. They also had four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2000 at 10 am at Forest Lawn Chapel, 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City, CA 92234 followed by a celebratio n of life at the Marriott Desert Springs, Colibri Room, 74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260.